The curtains are almost down on 2022 but the show seems to will itself on. The year was much-awaited as Bollywood was rooting for its big releases after two years of the country being in lockdown mode with the pandemic. But Hindi cinema had the most challenging time impressing audiences.
Many major releases including Ayan Mukerji’s Brahmastra, Aamir Khan’s Laal Singh Chaddha, Gowtam Tinnanuri’s Jersey, and others pushed their launch dates to escape the lockdown impact. But they ended as a lost cause. While Bollywood failed to break records, South Indian films ruled the box office.
Several regional films saw the audience lapping it up, including diehard Hindi viewers. The year saw new grounds as SS Rajamouli’s pan-India film RRR roared at the box office. Following this came Prasanth Neel’s KGF Chapter 2, Kamal Haasan’s Vikram, and other blockbuster films when Bollywood failed to read the audiences’ pulse despite starring A-listers like Ranveer Singh in Jayeshbhai Jordaar, Shahid Kapoor in Jersey, Vijay Devarakonda in Liger, Aamir Khan in Laal Singh Chaddha, Ranbir Kapoor in Shamshera, and Hrithik Roshan along with Saif Ali Khan in Vikram Vedha and how could one not mention the recent bomb, Rohit Shetty’s film Cirkus starring Ranveer Singh.
As we evaluate the passing year, let’s take a look at regional films that did better than Hindi films.
RRR
The SS Rajamouli film starring Ram Charan, NT Rama Rao Jr, Shriya Saran, and Samuthirakani in the lead roles hit the theatres on March 24. It also featured Bollywood’s Alia Bhatt and Ajay Devgn who played a key role in the promotions making it a blockbuster hit. Alia Bhatt was seen promoting RRR along with SS Rajamouli, Ram Charan, and NTR Jr in all major cities including Hyderabad, Delhi, Chennai, and Mumbai.
Credit goes to the marketing team who made use of its Hindi cast Bhatt and Devgn and made sure the film reaches a wider audience.
For those unversed, RRR is the most expensive Indian film to date made on a budget of a whopping Rs 550 crore. Reports say RRR made Rs 240 crore worldwide on its first day in theatres breaking the record for the highest opening day collection by an Indian film. The film not only became the highest-grossing film in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana but also became the third Indian film and the first Telugu film to be nominated at the Golden Globes in the Best Non-English Language Film category and for the Best Original Song.
Speaking to Screendaily, SS Rajamouli said “I’m trying to find out why Westerners like the film so much. From what I’ve read on social media, it’s a mix of unapologetic superheroism and the unexpected movement from action to romance, comedy, dance and action. But this is how we tell stories in India. There’s something for everyone.”
The film’s success was not only because of its star cast or the director. From the well-written script to catchy music, Rajamouli didn’t go wrong with any element accountable for making a film a hit. And Naatu Naatu song being shortlisted in the Best Original Song Category at the 95th Academy Awards is its testimony.
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KGF: Chapter 2
After RRR, this Kannada film directed and written by Prashanth Neel took over the theatres. Featuring Yash, Sanjay Dutt, Raveena Tandon, Srinidhi Shetty, and Prakash Raj in prominent roles, KGF: Chapter 2 went on floors on April 14 in five languages including Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam.
The period action thriller shattered records and became the second highest-grossing film in India, the highest-grossing Indian film in 2022, and the third highest-grossing Indian film worldwide. Reports say KGF: Chapter 2 was produced on a budget of Rs 100 crore which is the most expensive Kannada film in history. The film collected Rs 1,200-1,250 crore globally.
On the failure of Bollywood, KGF 2 star Yash, while speaking to Film Companion, said he doesn’t want Kannada people to put any other industry down as even the Kannada industry faces the same problem.
“I don’t want the people of Karnataka to put any other industry down, because we have faced the same problem when everyone treated us the same way. We have worked hard to get that respect. After that, we cannot start disrespecting anyone. We should respect everybody. Respect Bollywood. Forget this north and south,” Yash said.
Vikram
The Kamal Haasan-Vijay Sethupathi film was released theatrically on June 3 after a long delay due to Covid restrictions. Directed and written by Lokesh Kanagaraj, the film was shot on a budget of Rs 120-150 crore and earned Rs 420-Rs 500 crore after its release and became the second highest-grossing Tamil film and fifth highest-grossing Indian film of 2022, and the fourth highest-grossing Tamil film of all time.
Vikram was released in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi and received rave reviews for its cinematography, writing, cast, and action sequences. The film’s trailer was released in May and crossed over 1.2 crore views within 24 hours of its release, reports said.
Sita Ramam
Sita Ramam is a poetic and poignant love story that will give you a sense of the 60s-70s romance caught on film in Indian cinema. Starring Dulquer Salmaan and Mrunal Thakur, the film became a critical and commercial success and earned more than Rs 91.4 crore at the box office.
Directed by Hanu Raghavapudi, the film faced a ban in Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. However, the simple-hopeless romantic film, but not cliche, earned praise.
This Telugu-period romance was also compared with the classic Hindi romantic film Veer-Zara starring Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, and Rani Mukherjee.
Kantara
Kantara was the cherry on the cake for Kannada cinema that couldn’t suppress a triumphant smile with the success of KGF: Chapter 2. Rishab Shetty’s direction and writing became the talk of the town when Kantara hit theatres on September 30, unveiling the Bhoota Kola tradition.
The film emerged as a huge commercial success and became the second-highest-grossing Kannada film of all time and the second-highest-grossing Kannada film of 2022. After the success of its Kannada version, the makers announced its dubbed Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, and Malayalam versions as well. The domestic net collections of all the versions crossed Rs 200 crore in 30 days, reports said.
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Kantara also found itself in a plagiarism controversy as Thaikkudam Bridge, a popular music band from Kerala, accused the makers of lifting their tune. Given the social media age, Thaikkudam Bridge slammed Kantara on Instagram levelling serious plagiarism charges for a blatant infringement of copyright laws as the song Varaha Roopam in Kantara had been allegedly copied from their song, Navarasam.
Nonetheless, Rishab Shetty’s directorial impacted a wider audience and the Karnataka State Government announced a monthly allowance for Bhoota Kola performers over 60 years of age.
Ponniyin Selvan: I
Mani Ratnam’s epic historical action drama, Ponniyin Selvan: I starred Vikram, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Jayam Ravi, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Trisha, Karthi, Jayaram, Sobhita Dhulipala, Prabhu, Vikram Prabhu, R Sarathkumar, Prakash Raj, R Parthiban, Rahman, and Lal in lead roles.
The multi-starrer film was made on a budget of Rs 500 crore. Although it received mixed reactions from both critics and the audience, it became the highest-grossing Tamil film of 2022, the fourth-highest-grossing Tamil film of all time, and the 15th-highest-grossing Indian film of all time.
Mani Ratnam also confirmed Ponniyin Selvan: II which will be released theatrically after 6-9 months of PS1.
As is very visible, not even one Bollywood film did the numbers like regional films in 2022. The year, however, proved to be a success for Alia Bhatt as her film with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Gangubai Kathiawadi which released in March was the lone Bollywood hit, she continued with her other successes in RRR, Brahmastra, and Darlings on Netflix.
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Other films that made some noise at the box office were Vivek Agnihotri’s The Kashmir Files, Bhool Bhulaiya 2, and the most recent Drishyam 2.
Now, the concern is whether Bollywood will make a comeback next year or go further down. 2023 has a lot on its plate for Bollywood with big releases like Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone’s Pathaan, Prabhas’s Adipurush, Siddharth Malhotra’s Mission Majnu, Salman Khan’s Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani, Luv Ranjan’s Tu Jhooti Main Makkar, Rajkumar Hirani’s Dunki, Ajay Devgn’s Bholaa, Kartik Aaryan’s Shehzada, Salman Khan’s Tiger 3, Varun Dhawan’s Bawaal, and others.
Aasha Jaiswal Singh, Known for mimicking Meena Kumari, dies in Mumbai
Veteran actor and mimicry artist Aasha Jaiswal Singh died in Mumbai on August 22. Her son Akkash Bharadwaj confirmed the news and remembered her contribution to acting and mimicry.
Veteran actor and mimicry artist Aasha Jaiswal Singh died in Mumbai on August 22. Her son, Akkash Bharadwaj, shared the news and remembered her for her work as an actor, social worker and mimicry artist.
Aasha Jaiswal Singh was particularly known for her ability to mimic the voice of legendary actor Meena Kumari. According to details shared by her son, she was also credited as India’s first female mimicry artist and worked as a character actor.
Aasha Jaiswal Singh’s death confirmed by son
Akkash Bharadwaj announced his mother’s death in a social media post. Remembering her, he described her as a “karmath loh-mahila”, or “iron lady”, and urged people to pray for her soul.
He also asked people to remember Aasha Jaiswal Singh by revisiting her work and contributions rather than only mourning her death.
According to the details shared by her son, Aasha Jaiswal Singh died on August 22. Her last rites were held at the Pawan Hans crematorium in Vile Parle West, Mumbai, on August 23 at 10 am.
Aasha Jaiswal Singh was known for Meena Kumari mimicry
Aasha Jaiswal Singh’s work as a mimicry artist was an important part of her public identity. She was recognised for recreating the voice of Meena Kumari, one of Hindi cinema’s celebrated actors.
Alongside mimicry, she worked as a character actor and social worker. Her son also said that she was the founder, owner and operator of Aasha Events and Films.
Her death marks the loss of an artist remembered for combining acting with mimicry and social work.
Aasha Jaiswal Singh’s final rites held in Mumbai
The family conducted her last rites on August 23 at the Pawan Hans crematorium in Vile Parle West. The rites took place at 10 am, according to details shared by her son.
Kriti Sanon’s Raksha Bandhan ad draws criticism over modern festive look
Kriti Sanon’s Raksha Bandhan advertisement has sparked an online debate, with some social media users questioning her contemporary festive outfit and the campaign’s concept.
Kriti Sanon’s latest festive appearance has triggered a debate on social media after the actor featured in a Raksha Bandhan advertisement wearing a contemporary outfit.
In the advertisement, Kriti Sanon is seen in an off-white bralette-style blouse paired with a cape and a draped skirt. While the actor has previously experimented with contemporary interpretations of traditional fashion, some social media users criticised her look in the festive campaign.
The criticism was directed particularly at the choice of outfit for a Raksha Bandhan-themed advertisement, with several users questioning whether the look was appropriate for the occasion.
Advertisement’s pet dog sequence also draws reactions
The concept of the advertisement also became a point of discussion online. In the campaign, Kriti is seen tying a traditional rakhi on a dog after the pet barks at her.
The advertisement presents the ritual as a way of including the pet in the family’s Raksha Bandhan celebrations. However, several social media users questioned the decision to include the dog in the festive ritual.
Some commenters accused the brand of making a mockery of Indian festivals, while others said they disagreed with the overall concept of the advertisement.
Social media users criticise Kriti Sanon’s festive look
Kriti Sanon’s outfit became one of the main talking points among those criticising the advertisement. Some users described the outfit as inappropriate for a Raksha Bandhan campaign.
One social media user wrote that Kriti was tying rakhi in a “bra kinda attire” and questioned the use of such an outfit during the festival.
Another commenter compared the treatment of Raksha Bandhan with other festivals and criticised the advertisement’s presentation of the celebration.
Other reactions focused on traditional elements associated with Raksha Bandhan. One user questioned the absence of a puja thali and tilak while also criticising Kriti’s outfit.
A separate comment objected to the inclusion of the dog, arguing that the campaign was not representative of the traditional spirit of Raksha Bandhan.
These comments reflect the views of individual social media users and do not establish a broader consensus about the advertisement.
Kriti Sanon yet to respond to criticism
The Raksha Bandhan advertisement continues to receive mixed reactions on social media. While some users have criticised the actor’s outfit and the campaign’s concept, Kriti Sanon is yet to respond to the criticism.
The debate comes as brands increasingly use contemporary interpretations of traditional festivals in advertising, with the campaign’s presentation becoming a subject of discussion among social media users.
Emraan Hashmi’s Awarapan 2 continues its strong run at the box office. The sequel to the 2007 film Awarapan added Rs 6.75 crore to its India net collection on Day 6, taking its total domestic net earnings to Rs 107.50 crore.
According to the figures cited in the report, the film recorded the Day 6 collection across 11,071 shows. With its latest earnings, Awarapan 2 has maintained its momentum after crossing the Rs 100 crore mark in five days.
Awarapan 2 box office collection day 6
Awarapan 2 earned Rs 6.75 crore net in India on its sixth day. Its India gross collection has reached Rs 128.29 crore, while the net collection stands at Rs 107.50 crore.
The film also recorded Rs 1.50 crore from overseas markets on Day 6. Its overseas gross collection now stands at Rs 25.30 crore.
Combining its India and overseas earnings, Awarapan 2’s worldwide gross collection has reached Rs 153.59 crore.
The film opened with Rs 22 crore across 9,033 shows on its first day. It then witnessed a rise over the weekend, earning Rs 33.75 crore on Saturday and Rs 26 crore on Sunday.
On Monday, the film collected Rs 9.25 crore and continued to hold its ground at the box office. Its Day 6 collection stood at Rs 6.75 crore.
The reported India net collections are:
Day 1: Rs 22 crore
Saturday: Rs 33.75 crore
Sunday: Rs 26 crore
Monday: Rs 9.25 crore
Day 6: Rs 6.75 crore
Total: Rs 107.50 crore
Awarapan 2 surpasses Awarapan and Emraan Hashmi’s other films
Awarapan 2 crossed the lifetime India net collection of the 2007 film Awarapan on its opening day. The original film had earned Rs 7.75 crore over its lifetime.
The sequel also moved past the final collections of several of Emraan Hashmi’s films by Saturday. These included Haq, which collected Rs 20 crore, Raaz 2 with Rs 25.50 crore, Ek Thi Daayan with Rs 26 crore and Jannat with Rs 30 crore.
Awarapan 2 leads Independence Day box office race
The film also emerged as the top performer in the Independence Day box office race mentioned in the report. Awarapan 2 collected Rs 40.50 crore, ahead of Tamil Vishwanath & Sons at Rs 26 crore and Batwara 1947 at Rs 16.20 crore.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day collected Rs 12 crore, while the DC movie recorded Rs 6.30 crore.
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